Scraper bottom dump mechanism



DCC. 20, 1966 H. w. ROCKWELL ETAL 3,292,279

SCRAPER BOTTOM DUMP MECHANISM Filed March 6, 1964 United States Patent O 3,292,279 SCRAPER BOTTOM DUMP MECHANISM Harvey W. Rockwell, Cedar Rapids, and Dale W. Hawk,

Marion, Iowa, assignors to Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Company, Milwaukee, Wis.

Filed Mar. 6, 1964. Ser. No. 349,961 8 Claims. (Cl. 37-129) This invention relates to a bowl type earthmover having a bottom opening type ejection mechanism.

In the copending patent application of Harvey W. Rockwell on an earthmover, a two section bottom dump mechanism is illustrated wherein a strikeoif structure is pivotally secured to the front section and the rear section to which the front section is pivoted, is pivoted to the side walls of the bowl. Also, the beforementioned bottom dump mechanism is actuated by a pair of hydraulic jacks disposed on the inside of the bowl walls. Hydraulic jacks so located reduce the volume of the bowl, are subject to packing on the underside by excavated material, and operate in a very dirty environment which may tend to accelerate wear.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a bowl type earthmover having a bottom dum-p mechanism including a rear section pivoted on a transverse axis to the side walls of the bowl and a Afront section pivoted to the rear section at its rear end Iand carrying the strikeod edge rigidly at its forward end.

It is va further object of this invention to provide an improved bottom retracting type ejection mechanism of the hinged section type wherein guide means are provided for the front end of the froward section which Ifollow a vcurved path dun'ng retraction from a closedposition to a dumping position.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a bottom dumping mechanism including a -pair of hydraulic jacks disposed within hollow frame portions of the side walls.

It is a further Iobject of this invention to provide a two section hinged type bottom dumping mechanism carrying a strikeoi edge on the forward end of the front section of the bottom wherein guide means for the forward end of the front bottom section includes inclined ramp portions whereby, in the closed position of the bowl bottom mechanism, the strike oi edge is elevated sufciently to not interfere with excavation achieved with the excavating blade and wherein the initial opening movement of the 'bottom mechanism drops the strikeoi edge downwardly to a position below the excavating blade.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a bottom dump mechanism of the hereinbefore outlined character and having means for raising the strikeoi edge during the nal retraction movement of the bottom dump mechanism.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent when the following description is read in conjunction with the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of an earthmover incorporating the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial side view of the ear-thmover shown in FIG. 1 with the bottom dump mechanism in a retracted or dumping position;

FIG. 3 is a section view taken along the line III- III in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a side view of a modified track.

Referring t-o FIG. 1, the earthmover includes a wheeled draft frame 11 pivotally connected on a transverse axis 12 to a wheeled bowl 13. An excavating blade structure 14 is rigidly secured, as by welding, to the forward lower portions of the side walls 16, 17. The lblade structure inculdes an upwardly inclined ramp 18 and a re- Mice placeable blade element 19. The ramp 18 is of the type usually employed with an elevating type scraper using an endless conveyer such as is shown in the copending patent application of Harvey W. Rockwell, Earthmover. The blade structure 14 is in a nonexcavting or transport position in FIG. l, and may be lowered to an excavating position by vertical swinging movement of the bowl 13 about axis 12 by expansion of double acting hydraulic jacks 21, only one of which is shown, interconnected between the bowl and draft frame 11.

A bottom dumping mechanism 22 of novel construction is provided for the open bottom bowl 13. The bottom dumping mechanism 22 includes a rear bottom section 23 having a bottom wall 24 and a pair of upstanding legs 26, only one of which is illustrated, which are connected by .pins to theside walls 16, 17, respectively, for vertical swinging movement about transverse axis 27. The Ibottom mechanism also includes a forward bottom section 31 pivotally connected vat its rear end by a piano hinge joint to the forward end of the rear bottom section 23 .for relative movement about a transverse axis 32. A strikeoff edge 33 is rigidly secured to the forward end of the front section 31. Referring also to FIG. 3, the front section 31 includes a flat bottom wall 34 secured as by welding to reinforcing side panels 36, 37 and to a transversely extending angle 38 to which a replaceable strikeolf edge 33 is attached. A pair of arms 41, 42 are rigidly secured to the reinforcing panels 36, 37 and pivotally carry rollers 43, 44 guided in tracks 46, 47 secured as by welding to the side walls 16, 17, respectively.

The tracks 46, 47 each have an upwardly and forwardly inclined ramp portion at their forward end, as shown in FIGS. l and 2. The forward ramp portion for track 46 is designated 51. Both of the tracks 4 6, 47 are curved in a vertical direction in such a manner as to provide a substantially straight line movement of the strikeofr edge 33 through a substantial portion of its movement between the closed position illustrated in FIG. l and the open position, illustrated in lFIG. 2. An upwardly and rearwardly inclined portion is provided lfor each of the tracks 46, 47 at their rear ends to facilitate full ejection of any material having stubborn unloading characteristics. The final upward movement of the strikeo edge 33 permits it to clear large boulders being dumper from the bowl. The upwardly and rearwardly inclined ramp portion of track 46 is designated 52.

The side walls 16, 17 include hollow structural side frame portions 56, 57 having slots 58, 59 on their bottom sides through which arms 41, 42 extend. A pair of double acting hydraulic jacks 61, 62 are disposed within the hollow box section frame portions 56, 57 and are pivotally connected at the rod ends to the portions of the arms 41, 42 which extend upwardly through the slots 58, 59. The cylinder portion of the double acting hydraulic jacks 61, 62 are pivotally connected to the box section portions 56, 57. The hollow frame portions 56, 57 serve the double function of major structural beams and protective housings for the double acting hydraulic jacks 61, 62. This location of the jacks 61, 62 ydoes not increase the overall Width of the scraper appreciably.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the straight portions of the tracks maintain the strikeoff edge 33 in substantially straight line position during the major portion of the retraction `movement of the bottom mechanism thereby permitting the operator to evenly spread the material being dumped. The phantom positions 71, 72, 73, 74 show the strikeoli edge 33 during dum-ping movement. As the roller 43 moves down the ramp 46 the strikeoif edge 33 is initially lowered to a position 'below the elevation of the cutting blade 19. As the strikeoff edge 33 moves through the positions 71, 72, 73, 74, the rear edge of the bottom Wall 24 maintains a close relationship with the curved portion lof rear wall 76 of the scraper bowl 13. When large rocks or the like are in the bowl, the operator may move the ejection mechanism to its fully retracted position, illustrated in FIG. 2, wherein the roller 43 has moved up the rear ramp 52.

From the foregoing description, it is apparent that we have provided a novel bottom dumping mechanism for a scraper bowl. The provisionof a strikeoff structure on the front end of the front section 31` provides a rugged construction which is relatively inexpensive compared to other designs. The tracks 46, 47 effect a relatively straight line action of the strikeoff edge. However, if fine topping work is to be done with the scraper, the central portion of the tracks 46, 47 may be bowed upwardly an appropriate extent -to achieve a true straight line action of the strikeoi edge during retraction of the dumping mechanism. Such a track curvature is shown in FIG. 4.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. An earthmover comprising:

a wheeled draft frame,

a wheeled scraper bowl pivotally connected -to said draft frame for vertical swinging movement about a transverse pivot axis including a pair of transversely spaced side walls,

a transversely extending excavating blade structure rigidly secured at its opposite ends to the lower forward portions of said side walls, respectively,

transversely extending means rigidly interconnecting the rear portions of said side walls and a pair of longitudinally extending tracks on said side walls, respectively,

a -bottom dump mechanism for said bowl including a rear bottom section pivotally secured to said bowl on a transverse axis spaced forwardly of said transversely extending means and above the bottom of said side walls,

a front bottom section having a rear portion pivotally secured to the forward portion of said rear section on a transverse pivot axis and having a strikeoff edge rigidly secured to its forward portion,

support means connecting said forward portion of said front 'bottom section to said tracks for movement therealong and vertical load support thereby, and

power means for moving said bottom dump mechanism between closed and open positions. 2. The structure set forth in claim 1 wherein said .sup-` port means includes a pair of rollers secured to opposite 1 .lateral ends, respectively, of said forward portion of said front bottom section and in rolling load carrying engagement with said tracks, respectively.

3. The structure set forth in claim 2 wherein said power. 1 means includes a pair of longitudinally disposed hydraulic jacks adjacent the outer sides of said side walls, respectively, interconnecting said front bottom section and said bowl.

4. The structure set forth in claim 3 wherein each of said side walls has a longitudinally extending `hollow frame section and wherein said jacks are disposed with- A in said hollow frame sections, respectively.

5. The structure set forth in claim 4 wherein said front bottom section includes a pair of upstanding arms adi jacent the outer side of said side walls, respectively, carrying said rollers, respectively, and pivotally connected to said jacks, respectively.

6. The structure set forth in claim 5 wherein each of` said hollow frame sections has a longitudinally extend-` i ing slot at the bottom thereof and wherein said arms ex-i tend upwardly through said slots, respectively.

7. The structure set forth in claim 2 wherein said tracks have upwardly and forwardly inclined ramps at` their forward ends, respectively, in guiding and load carrying relation to said rollers, respectively, said rollers being supported on said ramps in said closed positionof said bottom dump mechanism.

8. The structure set forth in claim 7 wherein said References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS i 2,220,472 11/ 1940 Brodersen 37-126 3,057,090 10/1962 Mazzarins 37-126 3,108,388 10/ 1963 Johnson 37-8 ANTONIO F. GUIDA, Acting Primary Examiner. WILLIAM A. SMITH III, Examiner. 

1. AN EARTHMOVER COMPRISING: A WHEELED DRAFT FRAME, A WHEELED SCRAPER BOWL PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID DRAFT FRAME FOR VERTICAL SWINGING MOVEMENT ABOUT A TRANSVERSE PIVOT AXIS INCLUDING A PAIR OF TRANSVERSELY SPACED SIDE WALLS, A TRANSVERSELY EXTENDING EXCAVATING BLADE STRUCTURE RIGIDLY SECURED AT ITS OPPOSITE ENDS TO THE LOWER FORWARD PORTIONS OF SAID SIDE WALLS, RESPECTIVELY, TRANSVERSELY EXTENDING MEANS RIGIDLY INTERCONNECTING THE REAR PORTIONS OF SAID SIDE WALLS AND A PAIR OF LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING TRACKS ON SAID SIDE WALLS, RESPECTIVELY, A BOTTOM DUMP MECHANISM FOR SAID BOWL INCLUDING 